Saudi Arabia???? Anybody know?

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Anybody out there to help clarify some things about working in Saudi Arabia? I was talking with another nurse the other day and she had some experience working there, but supposedly came to the USA to get two years experience, so she could return there as an American and make more money. :confused: She told me that you can live in private housing (all paid, naturally), make up to $100,000 (American) and get every fourth month off with pay, to travel to wherever you want to go. (The stuff I'm finding on the web does not support any of that). Whether or not any of this is true, I am interested in hearing what anyone of you has to say about your experience working there. "Just the Facts, Ma'm". I want to know EVERYTHING, from how it was to work in the hospital (pros and cons), what it was like living on the compound (how much you can 'let your hair down' and such; ie no veils), what you encountered when off the compound (troubles or not), etc. Did you earn your money hourly or were you salary and working lots of hours? And, when you returned to the USA (if that's where you live), did you have to pay a big lump-sum of taxes on what you earned tax-free over seas??? Thank you so much for responding; any and all information will be much appreciated. (here's a little kiss in advance).:kiss **** BY THE WAY; I'M A TRAVELING NURSE WHO IS IN NEED OF A PARTNER/FRIEND TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE WITH. (Not necessarily Saudi; I miss the Western States, too). ANYONE OUT THERE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED, PLEASE LET ME KNOW...

I could never live in a country that equates the capability of driving a car with having a member.

What do they do? Steer with those things???

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I could never live in a country that equates the capability of driving a car with having a member.

I LOVE this post! :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

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can you give me an idea of salary in saudi? i am very interested in going over and giving it a try. i need the money to pay off my school loans and save some extra for obtaining my masters. where are the majority of other medical personnel from?

hi,

sorry to not have answered sooner, but i was in saudi arabia, working. went there in mid-march '05 and came home on vacation end of september.

to answer some of the questions:

1. it is generally a one year contract, with home leave ticket available after six months. the contract is renewable, if both parties agree.

2. the salary depends on which hospital you choose. probably the best paying is king faisal hospital in riyadh, which is a huge teaching and research center. the current rate is sr18,000 per month, which translates into $4,800. tax free. having said that, i have never heard many good things about working in that particular hospital. you can pm me if you want particulars.

3. the majority of the nurses there now are filipino. also more and more south africans. some swedish nurses. a few australians, a very few brits, and the occasional american. was told there are chinese nurses but i never met any. in less westernized hospitals there are indian, pakistani, lebanese, jordanian, and some palestinian nurses, but they generally do not recruit from the west.

4. unfortunately, the kingdom does not employ lpn/lvn's at this time, though with the nursing shortage, that could change.

5. i was concerned before i went about the safety issue, but shouldn't have been. once inside the country you'd never know there was any problem. except that the western governments insisted, and saudi authorities agreed, to put concrete barriers all around the entrance to the housing compounds of hospitals. between and over the barriers are large rolls of barbed wire. then there are checkpoints, where you show your id badge and cars and trucks may be searched. there are also several sandbag bunkers, at strategic points, with saudi soldiers holding machine guns. always impressed the heck out of me!

the embassies love to send out warnings about being on high alert, and trying to encourage folks to go home. personally, i think they just do it to cover their butts in case one of their citizens were hurt, they could say they'd told everyone about the danger.

i took buses and taxis all over town, walked all over, day and evenings up till 11 pm, and never was given any reason to feel i should be afraid. locals went out of their way to make me feel welcomed, telling me how the saudis love americans and how there are always a few bad apples anyplace. they are some of the most hospitable people i have ever met.

the only reason i chose not to return is that with ~95% of westerners gone due to fear of terrorism, it is a very lonely place to be. perhaps if you'd never been there when it was more like living in a very social arizona country club, it wouldn't bother you as much. i just found that most of my companionship came from my cat. if you just wanted to go there to save money, no problem, as long as you go prepared to be less socially active. having a computer would be a great help as well - i didn't. but it can still be a great place. :)

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Medhunters online recruit medical staff. Have a friend in Saudi now and loves it.

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:rotfl: :roll

Mind you,it is true!!!women are not allowed to drive a car without a male relative. If you did,you will be punished or a Motawa will chase you.

Women are also not allowed to expose their hair especially in public places-it's Haram(sin) for them.

In short,if you are a liberated women,working in a very conservative oil-rich country like Saudi Arabia, soon you will end up regretting your decision of working there.

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Specializes in human.

Hello from New Orleans, I am trying to get to the mid east as well. So far I am getting frustrated with my trail....... so I am thinking about canoeing down the Mississippi............ Bob

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Specializes in Operating Room.

I HAVE READ MANY OF THE THINGS SAID ABOUT SAUDI AND FIND THAT MOST PEOPLE SEEM TO BE MISINFORMED.

YES WE LIVE UNDER SHARIA LAW AND HAVE TO DRESS CONSERVATIVELY OR WEAR AN ABAYA. I HAVE A STUNNING ABAYA DECORATED WITH BEADS AND EMBROIDERY.

YES WOMEN MAY NOT DRIVE BUT THERE ARE PLENTY TAXIS(CALLED LIMOZINES) THEY ARE REASONABLY PRICED AND YOU NEVER NEED TO WAIT FOR ONE. MOST OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE HAVE ONE OR TWO DRIVERS WE USE REGULARLY.

I AM THE SENIOR CLINICAL NURSE IN AN OPERATING ROOM IN A PRIVATE HOSPITAL IN THE EASTERN PROVINCE.

I HAVE WORKED IN 3 DIFFERENT HOSPITALS IN THIS AREA.

I URGE YOU ALL TO GIVE IT A TRY. LIFE AFTERALL IS WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT.:up::p

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